Rhino moves into RMK’s office in Tallinn 04.06

Last week, the mounted black rhino Murray, who
lived to the age of 41 at the Tallinn Zoo and has been borrowed from the
Estonian Museum of Natural History, arrived at the lobby of RMK’s information
centre at Toompuieste.

The large rhino is available for viewing by
spectators beginning tomorrow, when RMK will be organising an open house at
RMK’s information centre at Toompuieste and the Viimsi Nature Centre. At the family event it will be possible to
view exhibitions, take part in hikes and a painting course, and to craft forest
medals. Between 12.00 and 16.00, the free Forest
Express will be making trips every 30 minutes in both directions, transporting
visitors between the two locations.

Murray, who brought joy to the visitors of
Tallinn Zoo until the beginning of 2010, was born in Kenya, where he was captured
from the wild in 1971. In 1988, the animal was brought from
Switzerland to the Tallinn Zoo, where he lived up to the age of 41, placing him
among the world’s oldest rhinos having lived in a zoo. The taxidermy of the rhino was a real
challenge, as the required experience was lacking in Estonia.

Creating the anatomically accurate model for
the taxidermy took five months. The rhino’s skin, which weighed several hundred
kilos in its original state, also required a long period for processing. Glass
eyes, made on special order, arrived from Germany, and synthetic hair was
attached to the mounted figure. The taxidermy for the collection of the
Estonian Museum of Natural History was completed in the beginning of 2011, and
its completion was supported by the Environmental Investments Centre.

The mounted rhino Murray will remain on
display for visitors at RMK’s information centre at Toompuiestee at least until
the end of the year.

RMK is the keeper, protector and manager of
the forest and other natural biotic communities belonging to the Republic of
Estonia. RMK earns a profit for the state through
forest management, growing reforestation material, and organising forest and
nature protection works. In addition, RMK establishes opportunities for
nature walking and shapes nature awareness. RMK consists of the Sagadi Forest Centre,
Elistvere Animal Park, Tartu Tree Nursery, 70% of Estonian-Finnish joint
company AS Eesti Metsataim and the Põlula Fish Farm. More than 700 people work for RMK.

Further information:Marge RammoHead of the Nature Preservation Department of
RMKmarge.rammo@rmk.eeTelephone 513 7035